Summary of Senate Amendments to HB1354

SSHB1354 341 5550

HOUSE SUMMARY OF SENATE AMENDMENTS

House Bill No. 1354 by Representative Hill

ANIMALS: Provides relative to the sale, barter, trade, and possession of nonindigenous and poisonous snakes and constrictors

Synopsis of Senate Amendments

1. Change the length of regulated constrictor snakes from six to eight feet in length. 2. Exempts from the requirement for licensure, people buying or handling for resale or propagation farm raised aquatic chelonians.

Digest of Bill as Finally Passed by Senate

Present law requires any person buying or handling for resale or any person transporting any native reptile or amphibian is required to have a reptile and amphibian wholesale/retail dealer's license at a cost of $105 for a resident and $405 for a nonresident. Proposed law expands present law to require licensure of any person buying or handling for resale or propagation of any live species of poisonous snake or constrictor. Exempts from the requirement for licensure, people buying or handling for resale or propagation farm raised aquatic chelonians.

Proposed law defines constrictor to include Apodora papuana (Papuan python), Liasis olivacea, (Olive python), Morelia spilota (Carpet or Diamond python), Morelia kinghorni (Scrub python), Morelia amethystine (Amethystine python), Python natalensis (Southern African python), Python sebae (African Rock python), Python molurus (Indian or Burmese python), Python reticulatus (Reticulate python), any species of the genus Boa (Boa constrictors), and any species of the genus Eunectes (Anacondas), and venomous snakes to include the Families Viperidae (Pitvipers and Vipers), Elapidae (Cobras and Mambas), Hydrophiidae (Sea Snakes), Atractaspididae (Mole Vipers), as well as the genera Dispholidus, Thelotornis, and Rhabdophis of the Family Colubridae.

Proposed law provides that constrictors in excess of eight feet and venomous snakes may only be kept by permit from the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries. Excepts animal sanctuaries, zoos, aquariums, wildlife research centers, scientific organizations, and medical research facilities listed in the federal Animal Welfare Act.

Proposed law authorizes the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to promulgate rules and provides that violations are class three violations punishable as follows:

1st offense $250 - $500 or imprisonment not more than 90 days, or both

2nd offense $500 - $800 or imprisonment between 60 and 90 days, and forfeiture 3rd + $750 - $1,000 & imprisonment between 90 and 120 days, and forfeiture

Second or subsequent offenses may include revocation of the license for the remainder of the issuance period.

Present law requires that all funds received from the sale of reptile and amphibian licenses be placed in the Conservation Fund and be used by the department exclusively for administering and enforcing the reptile and amphibian program or other such purposes as determined by the department. Proposed law removes the use restrictions. Applicable to license years beginning Nov. 15, 2010, and thereafter.

(Amends R.S. 56:632(A), 632.5(A), and 632.7; Adds R.S. 56:632.5.1)

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